Bottom Line:
The D-glucose levels were significantly higher in A12HM group.Maltase D expression level was significantly higher in males reared with sucrose.Body weights of the males reared with D-glucose and sucrose were significantly higher than those of the males reared with yeast extract.

Affiliation: Laboratory of Insect Ecology, College of Natural Resources and the Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510640, China.

ABSTRACTReproduction is an important life process in insects; however, few studies have attempted to demonstrate the association between reproductive activity and energy metabolism. To address this problem, we focused on the reproductive changes in Bactrocera dorsalis males. We analyzed B. dorsalis male gene expression profiles during mating (DM), 3 h after mating (A3HM) and 12 h after mating (A12HM). Gene annotation and pathway analyses of differentially expressed genes show that galactose metabolism and the starch and sucrose metabolism pathway activities were significantly higher in A12HM group. Moreover, the maltase D gene was the most strongly up-regulated gene. The D-glucose levels were significantly higher in A12HM group. Maltase D expression level was significantly higher in males reared with sucrose. Body weights of the males reared with D-glucose and sucrose were significantly higher than those of the males reared with yeast extract. We observed more mated males from the groups fed sucrose and D-glucose than from those fed yeast extract. The D-glucose levels in individual males were highest at 18:00 h, when flies exhibit the most active mating behavior. This study shows that the maltase D gene and D-glucose are the critical gene and substrate, respectively, in male B. dorsalis mating process.

f6: Comparison of the body weights (mean ± SE) for male flies reared with yeast extract, D-glucose and sucrose.Yeast extract: males reared with only yeast extract; D-glucose: males reared with D-glucose mixed with yeast extract at a 1:1 ratio; sucrose: males reared with sucrose mixed with yeast extract at a 1:1 ratio. Bars labeled with the same letter do not differ significantly from each other (p > 0.05, Turkey's test).

Mentions:
The body weights of the males reared with D-glucose mixed with yeast extract and sucrose mixed with yeast extract were significantly higher than those of the males reared with yeast extract alone (F = 9.995, df = 2, p = 0.003). However, the body weights of the males reared with D-glucose mixed with yeast extract and sucrose mixed with yeast extract did not differ (Figure 6). Furthermore, maltase D gene expression was significantly higher in the males reared with sucrose mixed with yeast extract and D-glucose mixed with yeast extract than in the males of the yeast extract only group (F = 40.965, df = 2, p < 0.001) (Figure 7). Mating competition experiments showed that the numbers of successfully mated males from the sucrose mixed with yeast extract and D-glucose mixed with yeast extract groups were significantly higher than the number of males in the yeast extract only group (F = 108.545, df = 2, p < 0.001). However, a significant difference was not observed between the males in the sucrose mixed with yeast extract and D-glucose mixed with yeast extract groups (Figure 8). Moreover, the D-glucose concentration in individual males showed a significant peak that was greatest at 18:00 during the day (F = 3.419, df = 5, p = 0.026) (Figure 9).

f6: Comparison of the body weights (mean ± SE) for male flies reared with yeast extract, D-glucose and sucrose.Yeast extract: males reared with only yeast extract; D-glucose: males reared with D-glucose mixed with yeast extract at a 1:1 ratio; sucrose: males reared with sucrose mixed with yeast extract at a 1:1 ratio. Bars labeled with the same letter do not differ significantly from each other (p > 0.05, Turkey's test).

Mentions:
The body weights of the males reared with D-glucose mixed with yeast extract and sucrose mixed with yeast extract were significantly higher than those of the males reared with yeast extract alone (F = 9.995, df = 2, p = 0.003). However, the body weights of the males reared with D-glucose mixed with yeast extract and sucrose mixed with yeast extract did not differ (Figure 6). Furthermore, maltase D gene expression was significantly higher in the males reared with sucrose mixed with yeast extract and D-glucose mixed with yeast extract than in the males of the yeast extract only group (F = 40.965, df = 2, p < 0.001) (Figure 7). Mating competition experiments showed that the numbers of successfully mated males from the sucrose mixed with yeast extract and D-glucose mixed with yeast extract groups were significantly higher than the number of males in the yeast extract only group (F = 108.545, df = 2, p < 0.001). However, a significant difference was not observed between the males in the sucrose mixed with yeast extract and D-glucose mixed with yeast extract groups (Figure 8). Moreover, the D-glucose concentration in individual males showed a significant peak that was greatest at 18:00 during the day (F = 3.419, df = 5, p = 0.026) (Figure 9).

Bottom Line:
The D-glucose levels were significantly higher in A12HM group.Maltase D expression level was significantly higher in males reared with sucrose.Body weights of the males reared with D-glucose and sucrose were significantly higher than those of the males reared with yeast extract.

Affiliation:
Laboratory of Insect Ecology, College of Natural Resources and the Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510640, China.

ABSTRACTReproduction is an important life process in insects; however, few studies have attempted to demonstrate the association between reproductive activity and energy metabolism. To address this problem, we focused on the reproductive changes in Bactrocera dorsalis males. We analyzed B. dorsalis male gene expression profiles during mating (DM), 3 h after mating (A3HM) and 12 h after mating (A12HM). Gene annotation and pathway analyses of differentially expressed genes show that galactose metabolism and the starch and sucrose metabolism pathway activities were significantly higher in A12HM group. Moreover, the maltase D gene was the most strongly up-regulated gene. The D-glucose levels were significantly higher in A12HM group. Maltase D expression level was significantly higher in males reared with sucrose. Body weights of the males reared with D-glucose and sucrose were significantly higher than those of the males reared with yeast extract. We observed more mated males from the groups fed sucrose and D-glucose than from those fed yeast extract. The D-glucose levels in individual males were highest at 18:00 h, when flies exhibit the most active mating behavior. This study shows that the maltase D gene and D-glucose are the critical gene and substrate, respectively, in male B. dorsalis mating process.